Neutral start switch and adjustment assembly for a hydrostatic transmission

Abstract

A hydrostatic transaxle assembly is drivingly connected to a power source and the power source is activated through an electric starter circuit. The hydrostatic transaxle includes an axial type hydrostatic transmission module having a pump which includes a plurality of axially arranged cylinders each including a piston therein. A tiltable swash plate includes a lateral surface rotatable within the hydrostatic transmission casing. The swash plate is in engagement with the plurality of pistons wherein tilting of the swash plate effectuates fluid displacement of the pump. A neutral switch is fixed relative to the transmission casing and includes a registering portion engaged with the swash plate to detect a neutral position and correspondingly allow starting of an electric starter through the starter circuit. A neutral adjustment assembly includes a control rod rotatably supported by the casing and a two piece shift lever is attached thereto. The two piece lever includes a first member attached to the control rod and a second member normally releasably fixed to the first member but selectively rotatable relative to the first member when loosened from the first member. A resilient biasing member has a first leg held substantially fixed to the casing and a second leg held substantially fixed to the second member of the shift lever to bias the first member of the shift lever into a neutral position and at least one fastener releasably fixes the first and second members together.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A neutral adjustment assembly for use with a hydrostatic transmission comprising: 
       a casing enclosing the hydrostatic transmission;  
       a rotatable control rod rotatably supported by said casing and including a portion positioned externally relative to said casing;  
       a two piece shift lever assembly having a first member attached to said externally positioned portion of said control rod and a second member normally releasably fixed to said first member but selectively rotatable relative to said first member when loosened from said first member;  
       a resilient biasing member having a first leg held substantially fixed relative to said casing and a second leg held substantially fixed relative to said second member of said shift lever for a given direction of rotation whereby said first member of said shift lever is biased toward a neutral position by said resilient member; and  
       at least one fastener releasably fixing together said first and second members.  
     
     
       2. The neutral adjustment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first member of said shift lever includes first and second ends, said control rod rotationally fixed to said first member intermediate said first and second ends of said first member, said second member of said shift lever including a pair of attachment portions, one of said pair of attachment portions is pivotable relative to said first member and positioned at said first end of said first member, the other attachment portion of said second member overlays said first member and is rotatable through an arc relative to said one of said pair of attachment portions. 
     
     
       3. The neutral adjustment assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a first post fixed to said second member and extending toward said casing; a second post fixed to said casing and extending toward said shift lever; said first end of said resilient member in contact with one of said first or second posts and said second end of said resilient member in contact with the other said first or second posts. 
     
     
       4. The neutral adjustment assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said resilient member comprises a torsional spring and said first and second legs are a pair of ends of said spring extending from a coiled portion of said spring. 
     
     
       5. The neutral adjustment assembly of  claim 2 , wherein one of said attachment portions of said second member includes a slot, said at least one threaded fastener is attached to said first member and extend through said slot of said second member, said slot defined by a slot wall, said slot wall including a pair of opposite end portions wherein each said opposite end portion of said slot wall being contacted by said fastener to provides respectively a pair of stops. 
     
     
       6. A neutral adjustment assembly for use with a hydrostatic transmission comprising: 
       a casing enclosing the hydrostatic transmission;  
       a rotatable control rod rotatably supported by said casing and including a portion positioned externally relative to said casing;  
       a two piece shift lever assembly having a first member attached to said externally positioned portion of said control rod and a second member normally releasably fixed to said first member but selectively rotatable relative to said first member when loosened from said first member;  
       a resilient biasing member engaging said second member of said shift lever and biasing said second member in a neutral position, whereby said first member of said shift lever is also biased toward the neutral position; and  
       at least one fastener releasably fixing together said first and second members together.  
     
     
       7. The neutral adjustment assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said first member of said shift lever includes first and second ends, said control rod rotationally fixed to said first member intermediate said first and second ends of said first member, said second member of said shift lever including a pair of attachment portions, one of said pair of attachment portions is pivotable relative to said first member and positioned at said first end of said first member, the other attachment portion of said second member overlays said first member and is rotatable through an arc relative to said one of said pair of attachment portions.